Electronic Travel Authority

Electronic Travel Authority

In 2019 the Government will introduce an Electronic Travel Authority for some groups of travellers. It is a new security and facilitation measure that will help to speed things up at the border.

The Electronic Travel Authority aims to:

Enhance security and reduce immigration risks

Address smuggling and biosecurity risks

Improve the traveller experience

Support New Zealand’s international relationships and agreements

Adapt to the changing needs and requirements of the government, stakeholders and travellers over time.

The number of visitors to New Zealand has grown strongly over the past few years, and growth is expected to continue. Most short term visitors arriving by air or sea do not need to apply for a visa, which supports our tourism industry by making it easy to travel.

However, when people don’t have to apply for visas, we only learn about them once they are enroute to New Zealand. We are unable to screen these travellers in advance for border and immigration risks and have a reduced ability to make entering New Zealand smoother and faster as technology evolves.

The Electronic Travel Authority aims to deal with these issues and is part of wider government efforts to make border crossing as seamless as possible.

How the Electronic Travel Authority will work

Before coming to New Zealand, travellers required to hold an Electronic Travel Authority will fill out a simple form and pay their fee online, creating an electronic account that will be easy to set up and update.

Some travellers will also have to pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy at this point. Find out more about the levy here: www.mbie.govt.nz/border-changes.

Electronic Travel Authority applicants will need to provide:

Name and birthdate

Passport details

Contact details

Some declarations, such as about criminal conviction history and travel intention

Optional biometric information (passport photo).

The Electronic Travel Authority will be valid for two years. Final costings are still under development, but we expect it will cost between $9 and $12.50 per person. The Government will announce the final fee in the first half of 2019.

It will likely come into effect for air passengers and crew in the second half of 2019. We expect that it will come into effect for cruise passengers and crew in 2020.

Who will have to hold an Electronic Travel Authority

Most travellers who aren’t required to get a visa before entering New Zealand will have to hold an Electronic Travel Authority. This includes citizens of visa waiver countries, cruise ship passengers, cruise ship crew and commercial airline crew.

Australian citizens will be exempt, but Australian permanent residents will need to hold an Electronic Travel Authority.

New Zealand citizens and holders of valid New Zealand visas (both resident visas and temporary visas) will continue to be able to enter New Zealand without an Electronic Travel Authority.

Visa waiver countries are:

Andorra

Argentina

Austria

Bahrain

Belgium

Brazil

Brunei

Bulgaria

Canada

Chile

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia (citizens only)

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Hong Kong (residents with HKSAR or British National (Oversesas) passports only)

Hungary

Iceland

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Japan

Korea (South)

Kuwait

Latvia (citizens only)

Liechtenstein

Lithuania (citizens only)

Luxembourg

Macau (Macau Special Administrative Region passports only)

Malaysia

Malta

Mauritius

Mexico

Monaco

Netherlands

Norway

Oman

Poland

Portugal (with the right to live permanently in Portugal)

Qatar

Romania

San Marino

Saudi Arabia

Seychelles

Singapore

Slovak Republic

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Taiwan (permanent residents only)

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom (must have the right to reside permanently in the United Kingdom)